Securing Iraq (1) The Madean Crisis

Hussein Ali al-Yassiri and Yaseen al-Rubai’I report (27 April) on the continuing investigation into the hostage-crisis in Madean. They report that ‘Residents said insurgents began appearing in Madaen more than a month ago, apparently after fleeing nearby Latifiya, where the government staged a recent crackdown. They claim that masked gunmen had been roaming the town, and that some - armed with rocket launchers and machine guns - recently told Shia to leave their homes. “All 11 members of my family had to leave,” said farmer Muhammed Raoof, who just returned to Madaen. “The gunmen told us openly to get out of town or they would kill us.”’ (AJ)